Bukurije

This is Bukurije, a widowed mother, whose name in Albanian means ‘Pretty’ and whose business is working as a street vendor, selling mostly cigarettes. She needs your help to take her grandson to a hospital in Greece for an immediate medical treatment that has been required lately due to his condition that has been worsening.

Bukurije lives in a little town in southeastern Albania. Her married son and his children live with her in accordance with Albanian family tradition. Almost everyone in the rural areas practices this tradition of living together with parents. Most of the time it is the youngest sons who live in. This tradition is seen as very healthy, considering the fact that both sides help one another.

Grandparents help the little ones grow and do other chores as well around the home, and they also help with the rural agricultural activities. In return, the youngsters repay this in kindness to their parents through their latest years. In the cities, though, this tradition is not followed as much as in the villages.

Additional Information

About VisionFund Albania

VisionFund Albania is a micro-finance subsidiary of child hunger nonprofit World Vision International. Striving to improve child welfare, the organization offers a variety of loan products designed for rural, traditionally underserved clients and their families. These products include agriculture, business and household improvement loans, as well as "integration loans" targeted to help the poorest, most vulnerable Albanian households acquire value chain resources.

While VFA is focused on the empowerment of the poor overall, it pays special attention to women. About 60% of loans to entrepreneurs on Kiva go to women.